Energy and environment concerns have been ranked among the top problems facing society for the next 50 years, of which buildings are a major factor. This is because buildings use a significant portion of electricity and thermal energy, and the conversion of primary energy to electricity and thermal energy accounts for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy is used to maintain comfortable and healthy environments in buildings, although such environments are difficult to achieve. Indeed, reports of building related symptoms and health complaints have been increasing. This conference is organized to provide a platform for discussing energy and environmental issues and for initiating collaboration among building engineers, environmental scientists, architects, facility managers, and policy makers. The objective for the conference is to provide a forum for discussion that addresses the challenges and opportunities we are facing, while enabling collaboration that encourages the participants from both developed and developing countries to work together to solve the most critical problems. This first International Conference on Building Energy and Environment (COBEE) will be held in Dalian, which is a scenic, coastal city in Northeast China. Welcome to charming and beautiful Dalian!